The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has found that a company allegedly owned by Olisa Metuh:-Destra Investment Limited., which had N6, 676,576.06 as at November 24, 2014, swelled to N1.4billion in December 2014.
According to the commission which is currently probing massive looting of national funds during the previous government, some of the strange deposits in the account include the N400million from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) on November 24th, 2014; N253million (December 2nd and 4th, 2014) from Ibrahim Kabiru whose identity was yet to be confirmed; N91million on December 2, 2014 from Capital Field Investment; and N92million on December 3, 2014 from Etonye Oyintoneife.
Following the latest breakthrough, sources at the commission has hinted that the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be soon summoned to shed lights on the business dealings that yielded such quantum profits under one month.
“We will invite Metuh any moment from now for clarifications on some of these transactions in this firm, which he allegedly owns”, the source said.
“From our records, part of the $2.1billion arms cash has been traced to Destra Investment Limited. About N400million was transferred from ONSA to the company on November 24, 2014 which had a balance of N6, 676,576.06 only before major in-flow from the ONSA.
“By December 2015, the owner of Destra had a turnover of over N1.4billion. There is no document to show that the company executed any job for ONSA. All companies engaged by ONSA appeared before the initial Special Investigative Panel raised by the Presidency.
“Other documents indicated that Metuh was allegedly on a monthly unexplained stipend of N4million cash from ONSA.
“Out of the funds in Destra account, N25million was paid to Abba Dabo, a former Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters to former Vice President Namadi Sambo on the December 16, 2014.
“Also, about N21,776,000 was remitted on December 4, 2014 to an account allegedly belonging to a former Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih; N31.5million to his media aide and N50 million to Metuh/Kanayo on the same transaction date.
“We have also established a link between Capital Field Investment and SEI Societed’ equipments Internanaux-Niamey-Niger BP 11737 which was hired by ONSA to purchase €3,654,121million security vehicles for the Republic of Niger in October 2013 and April 2014.”
Metuh has been vocal in his accusations that the EFCC was subjecting him and other opposition political players to media trial, claiming that he didn’t participate in any corruption dealings.
EFCC source, however, dismissed the accusation, saying: “Metuh is not on media trial at all but he is being investigated and the public should know why he is under searchlight.
“You will recall that the EFCC did not talk about the ongoing probe until Metuh openly admitted that he got some funds from ex-President Goodluck Jonathan but he refused to disclose the amount and the purpose.
“When he was aware that this commission was closing in on him, he also said some forces were after him. We refused to join the political fray because we are a professional agency.
“But we owe Nigerians a duty to reveal the facts at our disposal to let them appreciate the extent of what we are doing. EFCC is not out to witch-hunt anybody or group; we will, however, recover all traceable funds meant for arms.”
The source claimed that “the account of Destra and accruing transactions have been placed on surveillance.
By Olisemeka Obeche